Mailbox



Dec. 23, 1947. c, E CRQWE 24433302 MAILBOX Figled Sept. 8, 1947 Patented Dec. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAILBOX Charles E. Crowe, La Crescenta, Calif.

Application September 8, 1947, Serial No. 772,807

2 Claims. (01. 232-33) This invention is a box especially for the reception of first class mail in the form of small pieces, as ordinary letters, cards, etc., and for holding first and second class mail parcels of bulky form.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, substantial, low-cost, durable, practical andcompact holder including a lockable-lid box for average size first class pieces of mail, to which access may be instantly had when the lid is not locked.

Also, an object of the invention is to provide a box having a set-back lid to close snugly on and over a forwardly projecting or lower bay portion of the box and which lid is of such bottom contour as to snugly meet and practically seal the open top mouth of the box; the lid having a letter drop hole to be used if and when the lid is closed and. locked.

Further, a purpose of the invention is to provide a gravity closed lid including an upturned, weight-giving wing spaced well forwardly from the main lid body and outwardly of the front plane of the front wall of the box.

The invention resides in certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose constructions, combinations and details of means and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the following description of the herewith illustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, spirit and principles of the invention as it is claimed in conclusion hereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the partially opened box.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the closed, upper portion of the box.

Figure 3 is a detail, vertical section showing the trough of the lid sealing the front lip of the box mouth.

The box embodies a lower, main portion 2 having side walls 3 of suitable depth and connected by a front or bay panel 4 and a back wall 5; the latter having suitably arranged holes, of which only one is shown at 6, to receive screws or nails by which the box may be attached to a post or to a wall. The panel 4 has holes I to dicslose pieces of mail in the box, if any.

The back wall 5 extends well above the level of the front lip 8 of the box. A feature of the invention resides in the general outline of the top edge of the side wall 3; whereby to give a projecting bay effect to the panel 4. The lip 8 is shown as curving inwardly and upwardly at 80 in concave contour to a suitable depth and thence extends substantially vertically in a straight line 8s and then convexly curves rear- 2 wardly at 8r to the rear top corner of the box. The edge line 8s is about medially between the front and rear planes of the box; the top edges of the box walls forming the mouth of the box.

Hinged at [0 to the rear top corner of the box side walls is a covering lid H of a width from side to side of the box and the main body of the lid being of such curvature as to substantially nest on the lip 8 and nearly meet the top edges of the walls 3.

The lid has covering flanges l2 for the side walls and from the lower'end of the hinged lid there is provided a sharply upturned weight-giving wing l3 which, in closed position of the lid stands generally upright somewhat outward from the plane of the panel 4. This is for dual purposes; the trough I4 at the bottom of the wing rests at its lowest line on the lip 8 to shed water from the box mouth, and the space between the wing I3 and the main lid H is to receive mail parcels too bulky to go in the box, or those which cannot be put in the box when the lid is locked.

The panel 4 has near its top a small bail or loop l5 over which will straddle a hasp [6 provided on the trough of the lid; the bail being adapted to receive a padlock, not shown.

The upper part of the lid has letter drop-hole ll.

What is claimed is:

1. A mail receiving holder including an open top box of generally rectangular horizontal crosssection whose side walls have frontal edges set back on a generally vertical plane from the front part of the box to form a box bay and which edges then extend rearwardly to form top shoulders and the said front edges extending at their bottom portions to the front part of the box, and a lid pivoted on the top rear portion of the box and including a generally vertical body with upper and lower portions conformed to the contour of the said top edges of the side walls; the lid having an upturned, forwardly spaced wing forming a trough in front part of the lid.

2. The holder of claim 1; the lid trough forwardly overhanging and resting on the mouth lip of the front panel of the box.

CHARLES E. CROWE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

